About the institute
The Australian Solar Institute (ASI) is an organisation developed to advance Australia's research and development capabilities in solar energy technology.
Its mission is to proactively foster and support excellent R&D in Australia to accelerate commercial deployment of photovoltaic and concentrating solar power technologies.
The objectives of the ASI are to:
- advance and accelerate innovation in solar power and solar photovoltaic technologies in Australia
- drive research capable of improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of solar technologies
- increase the competitiveness of solar technologies
- retain local and attract international expertise in solar energy research
- establish Australia as a key player in the development of solar energy technologies in the Asia-Pacific region.
The ASI is also the vehicle through which the economic and technical knowledge generated from the Solar Flagships program are shared with the Australian and global solar community.
Timeline
The institute was registered as a not-for-profit company on 10 August 2009 and is based in Newcastle, New South Wales.
On 10 July 2011 the Australian Government announced its clean energy future plan, including its commitment to establish the $3.2 billion Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
The Australian Government is establishing ARENA as an independent statutory authority, with oversight of $3.2 billion in existing Australian Government renewable energy grants supporting the research and development of renewable energy technologies and initiatives to bring them to market.
The ASI will form part of ARENA from January 2013. ARENA will take the ASI forward and ensure support for solar technologies along the full innovation spectrum. For more information about ARENA read the ARENA Factsheet (see Related documents).
Grants and funding
The ASI is supported by $150 million funding from the Australian Government, with the majority of the Institute’s research funding allocated through a competitive grants program.
Since the ASI was established it has announced funding for over two dozen projects with a total leveraged value of approximately $200 million from an initial Commonwealth investment of $64 million. This includes foundation projects and projects selected through two competitive funding rounds. The portfolio’s leveraged value includes significant industry investment and contributions from research institutions and state governments.
USASEC
On 7 November 2010 the Prime Minister and United States (US) Secretary of State jointly announced the US-Australia Solar Energy Collaboration (USASEC).
This collaboration aims to increase the speed of development in solar energy technologies.
The long-term goal of USASEC is to develop technologies that will reduce the cost of electricity from solar energy to prices compatible with electricity from conventional sources. The Australian Government committed funding of up to $50 million from the Renewable Energy Future Fund which will be managed through the Australian Solar Institute.
Related links
Links to Institute related press releases from the Minister for Resources and Energy, the Hon Martin Ferguson AM MP are below:
Related documents
More information
For more information about the Australian Solar Institute or for guidelines and eligibility criteria visit the ASI website at www.australiansolarinstitute.com.au.
More information about
solar energy is available on our website.